Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु कैकेय्या राजा दशरथस्तदा।प्रत्युवाच ततः क्रुद्धो मुहूर्तं विह्वलन्निव।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu kaikeyyā rājā daśarathas tadā | pratyuvāca tataḥ kruddho muhūrtaṃ vihvalann iva ||

Translation

കൈകേയി ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ, രാജാവ് ദശരഥൻ അപ്പോൾ ക്രോധത്തോടെ, ഒരു നിമിഷം വിറങ്ങലിച്ചവനെന്നപോലെ അസ്ഥിരനായി, മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय

• उक्तः: addressed; spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject: rājā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been spoken to’

• तु: but; then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; contrast/continuation

• कैकेय्या: by Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्या: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument: by Kaikeyi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• दशरथः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थे (thereafter/from that)

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे (duration)

• विह्वलन्: being bewildered
• विह्वलन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ह्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā (उपमा/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

Context

Thus addressed by Kaikeyi, king Dasaratha flew into a temper for a while, and then as if in a state of delirium, replied:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse shows dharma under strain: even a righteous king can be shaken when forced to choose between vow-truth and paternal duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyī’s pointed reminder about truth and vows, Daśaratha reacts with anger and disorientation and begins to respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Human realism within dharma: a virtuous person may momentarily falter emotionally while still being bound to righteousness.